Image processing apparatus, control method thereof, program, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus for recording and reproducing an image, comprises: a recording unit that records the image; a search unit that searches file data recorded in the recording unit when the apparatus is started; an operation unit that designates a predetermined operation to the apparatus; and a control unit that enables acceptance of an operation upon designation of the operation by said operation unit during a search of said search unit, even before the search is completed.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/335,649, filed Jan. 20, 2006 (allowed), the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus thatrecords and reproduces still images, moving images, sound and the like,a control method of said apparatus, a computer program, and acomputer-readable storage medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Image processing apparatuses such as electronic cameras whichphotograph, record, and reproduce still images and moving images using amemory card having a solid-state memory as a recording medium havealready been available in the market. There are also apparatuses whichreproduce and display still images and moving images recorded in arecording medium on an electronic viewfinder such as a color liquidcrystal panel.

Recently, as recording media such as memory cards have increased thestorage capacity, a memory card can store a large amount of images. Atthe same time, many directories can be generated in the memory card(e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-112708).

In a case where such conventional image processing apparatus is startedto reproduce and display an image stored in a memory card storing alarge amount of images and directories, searching an image in the memorycard takes time. As a result, the apparatus requires a long time beforeit can accept a next operation such as button depression, thus causinginconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-describedproblem, and has as its object to reduce the time necessary before theapparatus can display image data during a file search.

In order to solve the above-described problem and achieve the object,the present invention provides an image processing apparatus forrecording and reproducing an image, comprising: a recording unit adaptedto record the image; a search unit adapted to search file data recordedin the recording unit when the apparatus is started; an operation unitadapted to instruct a predetermined operation to the apparatus; and acontrol unit adapted to, in a case where the operation unit performs anoperation during a search of the search unit, enable acceptance of theoperation even before the search is completed.

Furthermore, the present invention provides A control method of an imageprocessing apparatus having a recording unit for recording an image andan operation unit for instructing a predetermined operation, comprisingthe steps of:

searching file data recorded in the recording unit when the apparatus isstarted; and

in a case where the operation unit performs an operation during a searchin the searching step, controlling to enable acceptance of the operationeven before the search is completed.

By virtue of the present invention, even if a file search or a directorysearch is in progress upon startup of the apparatus, it is possible toreduce the time necessary before the apparatus can accept apredetermined operation.

Other objects and advantages besides those discussed above shall beapparent to those skilled in the art from the description of a preferredembodiment of the invention which follows. In the description, referenceis made to accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and whichillustrate an example of the invention. Such example, however, is notexhaustive of the various embodiments of the invention, and thereforereference is made to the claims which follow the description fordetermining the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of an image processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing as an example a back surface of the imageprocessing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart describing a main routine according to theembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing button depression processing accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing as an example a directory structure accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view showing as an example a menu display screen accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing as an example display screens withdata indication and without data indication according to the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view showing as an example a display screen for deleteprocessing according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A to 9C are views showing as an example display screens forsearch processing according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view showing as an example a display screen for indexplayback according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A to 11C are views showing as an example display screens forenlargement processing according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a data indication screen displayed during adirectory search according to the embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 13 is a view showing as an example a display screen where anoperation cannot be accepted according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14A is a view showing a memory state upon acquisition of lastimage.

FIG. 14B is a view showing a memory state upon completion of all imagesearch.

FIG. 15 is a view showing data recorded in a memory when a directorysearch is temporarily halted and resumed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Note that the embodiment which will be described below is provided as anexample realizing the present invention, and should appropriately becorrected or modified in accordance with various conditions andconfigurations of the apparatus to which the present invention isapplied. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to thefollowing embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of an electronic cameraaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, numeral 100 denotes an image processing apparatus typified byan electronic camera.

Numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens; 12, a shutter having adiaphragm function; 14, an image capturing element which converts anoptical image to electric signals; and 16, an A/D converter whichconverts analog signals outputted by the image capturing element 14 todigital signals.

Numeral 18 denotes a timing generator which supplies clock signals andcontrol signals respectively to the A/D converter 16 and a D/A converter26, under the control of a memory controller 22 and a system controller50.

Numeral 20 denotes an image processor which performs predetermined pixelinterpolation and color conversion processing on image data from the A/Dconverter 16 or image data from the memory controller 22.

The image processor 20 performs predetermined calculations using thesensed image data. Also, the image processor 20 performsthrough-the-lens (TTL) auto focus (AF) processing, auto exposure (AE)processing, pre-flash (EF) processing as the control performed by thesystem controller 50 on an exposure controller 40 and a distancemeasurement controller 42 based on the calculation results.

Further, the image processor 20 performs predetermined calculationsusing the sensed image data, and performs TTL auto white balance (AWB)processing based on the calculation results.

Numeral 22 denotes a memory controller which controls the A/D converter16, the timing generator 18, the image processor 20, an image displaymemory 24, the D/A converter 26, a memory 30, acompression/decompression unit 32, and an A/D converter 72.

The image data outputted from the A/D converter 16 is written into theimage display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processor 20 andthe memory controller 22, or only via the memory controller 22.

Numeral 24 denotes an image display memory; 26, a D/A converter; 28, animage display unit configured by a TFT, LCD or the like. Image datawritten in the image display memory 24 is displayed on the image displayunit 28 via the D/A converter 26.

An electronic viewfinder function can be realized by sequentiallydisplaying sensed image data on the image display unit 28.

Further, the image display unit 28 can arbitrarily be turned ON or OFFin accordance with an instruction from the system controller 50. If thedisplay is turned OFF, the electric consumption of the image processingapparatus 100 can be greatly reduced.

Numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing sensed still images and movingimages, and has a sufficient storage capacity for storing apredetermined number of still images and a predetermined period ofmoving images.

By virtue of this, in serial photographing where plural numbers of stillimages are serially photographed or in panoramic photographing, a largeamount of image data can be written into the memory 30 at high speed.

Further, the memory 30 can be used as a work area of the systemcontroller 50.

Numeral 32 denotes a compression/decompression unit which compresses ordecompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transformation(ADCT) or the like. The compression/decompression unit 32 reads imagedata stored in the memory 30 and performs compression or decompressionprocessing on the read image data, and writes the processed data intothe memory 30.

Numeral 40 denotes an exposure controller which controls the shutter 12having a diaphragm function. The exposure controller 40 interlocked witha flash 48 also has a flash controlling function.

Numeral 42 denotes a distance measurement controller which controlsfocusing of the photographing lens 10. Numeral 44 denotes a zoomcontroller which controls zooming of the photographing lens 10. Numeral46 denote a barrier controller which controls the operation of aprotector 102 serving as a barrier.

Numeral 48 denotes a flash having an AF auxiliary light projectionfunction and a flash controlling function.

The system controller 50 controls the exposure controller 40 and thedistance measurement controller 42 by the TTL method, in accordance withthe results of calculation performed by the image processor 20 based onthe sensed image data.

Numeral 50 denotes a system controller which controls the overall imageprocessing apparatus 100. Numeral 52 denotes a memory which storesconstants, variables, and programs for operation of the systemcontroller 50.

Numeral 54 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal displaydevice, a speaker and the like, which displays operating statuses,messages and the like by using texts, images, sound and so on, incorrespondence with execution of a program by the system controller 50.One or plural display units 54 are provided at an easily recognizablepositions near the operation unit of the image processing apparatus 100.The display unit 54 is constructed with combinations of, e.g., an LCD,an LED, a sound generating device and so forth.

Part of the functions of the display unit 54 is provided within theoptical finder 104.

The display contents of the display unit 54 displayed on the LCD or thelike include: indication of single-shot/serial-shot mode, a self timer,a compression rate, the number of recording pixels, the number ofrecorded images, the number of recordable images, a shutter speed, anf-stop value, exposure compensation, flash illumination, pink-eye effectmitigation, macro photographing, a buzzer-set state, a timer batterylevel, a battery level, an error state, information using plural digitnumbers, an attached/detached status of recording medium 200, operationof communication I/F, and date and time.

Further, the display contents of the display unit 54 displayed withinthe optical finder 104 include: a focus state, a camera shake warning, aflash charge state, a shutter speed, an f-stop value, and exposurecompensation.

Numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable and recordable nonvolatilememory such as an EEPROM.

Numerals 60, 61, 62, 64, 66, 68, and 70 denote operation units forinputting various operation instructions to the system controller 50,comprising a single or plurality of combinations of switches, dials,touch panels, a pointing device employing line-of-sight detection, avoice recognition device, and the like.

Next, the operation units will be described in detail.

Numeral 60 denotes a power ON/OFF switch which starts and terminates theimage processing apparatus 100.

Numeral 61 denotes a mode dial switch which enables selection of variousfunction modes such as a photographing mode and a reproduction mode.

Numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1 which is turned ON by halfstroke of a shutter button (not shown), and instructs start of theoperations of the AF processing, the AE processing, the AWB processing,the EF processing and the like.

Numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2 which is turned ON by fullstroke of the shutter button (not shown). The shutter switch SW2instructs start of a series of operations including: exposure processingto write signals read from the image capturing element 14 into thememory 30 via the A/D converter 16 and the memory controller 22,development processing utilizing calculations performed by the imageprocessor 20 and the memory controller 22, and recording processing toread the image data from the memory 30, compress the image data by thecompression/decompression unit 32, and write the compressed image datainto the recording medium 200.

Numeral 66 denotes an image display ON/OFF switch which can set ON/OFFof the image display unit 28.

With this function, in photographing an image using the optical finder104, power supply to the image display unit configured with a TFT, anLCD or the like can be cut off to save power.

Numeral 68 denotes a quick review ON/OFF switch which sets a quickreview function for automatically reproducing sensed image dataimmediately after a photographing operation. Assume that the presentembodiment in particular has a function that the quick review functionis set when the image display unit 28 is turned OFF.

Numeral 70 denotes an operation unit comprising various buttons andtouch panels including: a menu button, a set button, a macro selectionbutton, a multi-screen reproduction/repaging button, a flash settingbutton, a single-shot/serial-shot/self-timer selection button, a forward(+) menu item selection button, a backward (−) menu item selectionbutton, a forward (+) reproduction image search button, a backward (−)reproduction image search button, a photographing quality selectionbutton, an exposure compensation button, and a date/time set button.

Numeral 71 denotes a microphone which converts sound to electric data.Numeral 72 denotes an A/D converter which converts analog signals fromthe microphone 71 to digital signals.

Numeral 80 denotes a power controller comprising a battery detectioncircuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit for selecting the block tobe energized, and the like. The power controller 80 detects theattached/detached state of the battery, the battery type and theremaining battery power level, controls the DC-DC converter based on thedetection result and an instruction from the system controller 50, andsupplies a necessary voltage for a necessary period to the respectiveparts including the recording medium.

Numerals 82 and 84 denote connectors; and 86, a power source comprisinga primary battery such as an alkaline battery or a lithium battery, asecondary battery such as an NiCd battery, an NiMH battery or an Libattery, an AC adapter, and the like.

Numerals 90 and 94 denote interfaces for a recording medium such as amemory card or a hard disk. Numerals 92 and 96 denote connectors forconnection with the recording medium such as a memory card or a harddisk. A recording medium attached/detached state detector 98 detectswhether or not the recording medium 200 is attached to the connector 92and/or 96.

The present embodiment assumes that two systems of interfaces andconnectors are provided for connection with the recording medium.However, a single or plurality of systems including interfaces andconnectors may be provided. Further, interfaces and connectors pursuantto different standards may be combined. For the interfaces andconnectors, cards in conformity with Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association standards (PCMCIA cards) or cards inconformity with compact flash (CF) card standards may be used.

In a case where cards and connectors in conformity with the PCMCIAstandards, CF card standards and the like are used as the interfaces 90and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96, image data and managementinformation attached to the image data can be transmitted/receivedbetween the image processing apparatus and other peripheral devices suchas a computer and a printer by connection utilizing variouscommunication cards such as a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, anIEEE 1394 card, a P1284 card, an SCSI card and a PHS card.

Numeral 102 denotes a protection unit which serves as a barrier toprevent dirt and breakage of the image sensing portion by covering theimage sensing portion of the image processing apparatus 100.

Numeral 104 denotes an optical finder which enables photographingwithout the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28.In the optical finder 104, realized are some of the functions of thedisplay unit 54 including: an indication of focus state, a camera shakewarning, a flash charge state, a shutter speed, an f-stop value,exposure compensation and the like.

Numeral 110 denotes a communication unit having various communicationfunctions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE 1394, P1284, SCSI, MODEM, LAN, andwireless communication.

Numeral 112 denotes a connector, or in case of wireless communication,an antenna, for connecting the image processing apparatus 100 with otherdevices via the communication unit 110.

Numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a harddisk.

The recording medium 200 has a recording unit 202 configured with asemiconductor memory, a magnetic disk or the like, the interface 204 forcommunication with the image processing apparatus 100, and the connector206 for connection with the image processing apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a back surface of the image processingapparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. A menu button 301 canset to display or not display the menu. The menu allows deletion of allimages recorded in the recording medium 200, or addition of sound datato a currently displayed image. The added sound data is recorded as afile in the recording medium 200.

An enter button 302 can decide an item selected on the menu.

A data indication ON/OFF button 303 can select switching ON or OFF thedata indication of a reproducing image. Data indicated includes a filenumber, an image number, and photographed date and time.

A delete button 304 can delete a reproducing image.

A search button 305 can search an image recorded in the recording medium200. Search methods include 10-image jump search, moving-image jumpsearch, date jump search and the like. In the 10-image jump search,images are reproduced for every 10 images. In the moving-image jumpsearch, only the moving images are searched. In the date jump search,images are searched by date.

An index playback button 306 can select switching ON or OFF the indexplayback display. In index display, plural images are reproduced anddisplayed simultaneously on the display unit 54.

A reduce button 307 can reduce the size of a displayed image when it isenlarged. When photographing is performed, the button 307 also serves asan operation member to move the zoom lens to a wide angle.

An enlarge button 308 can enlarge the size of a displayed image. Whenphotographing is performed, the button 308 also serves as an operationmember to move the zoom lens to a telephoto angle.

A left button 309, a right button 310, an up button 311, and a downbutton 312 can change a selected item on the menu. The left and rightbuttons 309 and 310 can also be used for a frame-by-frame advancingoperation of reproduction images.

An easy direct button 313 can transfer an image displayed on the displayunit 54 to a PC connected to the camera through the communication unit110. In a case where the camera is connected to a printer through thecommunication unit 110, the button 313 can transfer an image displayedon the display unit 54 to the printer for printing the image.

FIG. 5 shows as an example a directory structure of an image recorded inthe recording medium 200. Under the root, there is a DCIM directorywhich includes xxxGANON directories such as 100GANON. Under the xxxGANONdirectory, there are image files such as IMG_xxxx.JPG or MVI_xxxx.AVI.The IMG_xxxx.JPG is a still-image file, and the MVI_xxxx.AVT is amoving-image file. In the example shown in FIG. 5, IMG_0001.JPG is imagenumber 1; IMG_0002.JPG is image number 2; IMG_0101. JPG is image number6; and IMG_9803. JPG is image number 12. The xxx in the xxxGANONdirectory is called a directory number, which may take 100 to 999. Thexxxx in the image file IMG_xxxx.JPG or MVI_xxxx.AVI is called a filenumber, which may take 0001 to 9999. Among the files in the directoryhaving the smallest directory number, the image file having the smallestfile number is image number 1. Among the files in the directory havingthe largest directory number, the image file having the largest filenumber has the largest image number (image number=total number ofimages).

FIG. 6 shows as an example a menu displayed by the menu button 301. Themenu enables all image deletion or addition of voice memo to a displayedimage. In this example, the “all delete” item is selected. If the enterbutton 302 is depressed in this state, images recorded in the recordingmedium 200 are all deleted.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show an example of data indication displayed by the dataindication ON/OFF button 303. When the data indication is OFF, only theimage recorded in the recording medium 200 is displayed as shown in FIG.7A. When the data indication is ON, the image as well as a file number701, an image number 702, photographed date and time 703 are displayedas shown in FIG. 7B. The file number 701 indicates that the directorynumber is 998 and the file number is 9802. The image number 702indicates the image number being reproduced and the total number ofimages. In this example, the image number being reproduced is 11, andthe total number of images is 12. The photographed date and time 703indicates that the image is photographed at 12:00 on Dec. 16, 2004. Whenthe data indication ON/OFF button 303 is depressed while the camera isset in the state in FIG. 7A, the image is displayed with data indicationas shown in FIG. 7B. When the data indication ON/OFF button 303 isdepressed while the camera is set in the state in FIG. 7B, the image isdisplayed with no data indication as shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 shows as an example a delete screen displayed by the deletebutton 304. In this example, “OK” is selected. If the enter button 302is depressed in this state, the image being displayed is deleted fromthe recording medium 200.

FIGS. 9A to 9C show as an example search screens displayed by the searchbutton 305. When the search screen is not displayed, if the searchbutton 305 is depressed, the 10-image jump screen shown in FIG. 9A isdisplayed. When the 10-image jump screen is displayed as shown in FIG.9A, if the left button 309 is depressed, the screen displays an imagewhose image number is 10 smaller than the image number of the currentlydisplayed image. Meanwhile, if the right button 310 is depressed, thescreen displays an image whose image number is 10 larger than the imagenumber of the currently displayed image.

When the 10-image jump screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 9A, if thesearch button 305 is depressed, the moving-image jump screen shown inFIG. 9B is displayed. When the moving-image jump screen is displayed asshown in FIG. 9B, if the left button 309 is depressed, the screendisplays a moving image whose image number is smaller than and isclosest to that of the currently displayed image. Meanwhile, if theright button 310 is depressed, the screen displays a moving image whoseimage number is larger than and is closest to that of the currentlydisplayed image.

When the moving-image jump screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 9B, ifthe search button 305 is depressed, the date jump screen shown in FIG.9C is displayed. When the date jump screen is displayed as shown in FIG.9C, if the left button 309 is depressed, the screen displays a movingimage immediately before the currently displayed image. Meanwhile, ifthe right button 310 is depressed, the screen displays a moving imageimmediately after the currently displayed image.

In other words, the present embodiment provides a first reproductionmode and a second reproduction mode. In the first reproduction mode,when the left button 309 or the right button 310 is depressed once, theorder of file to be reproduced from the recording medium is advanced byone file in accordance with a predetermined reproduction order(ascending or descending order). In the second reproduction mode, whenthe button is depressed once, the order of file to be reproduced isadvanced by n files (n≧1) in accordance with a predeterminedreproduction order. The value of n is automatically determined by apredetermined formula in correspondence with the number of photographedfiles, but can be set arbitrarily by a user.

FIG. 10 shows as an example a screen displayed when the index playbackbutton 306 is depressed. Plural images (herein, four images) aresimultaneously displayed on the display unit 54.

FIGS. 11A to 11C show as an example screens of enlarged images when thereduce button 307 or the enlarge button 308 is depressed. When theenlarge button 308 is depressed in the normal display state shown inFIG. 11A, an enlarged image is displayed (enlarged display 1 in FIG.11B). When the enlarge button 308 is depressed on the enlarged display 1in FIG. 11B, a further enlarged image is displayed (enlarged display 2in FIG. 11C). Meanwhile, when the reduce button 307 is depressed on theenlarged display 1 in FIG. 11B, the screen returns to the normal displaystate in FIG. 11A. When the reduce button 307 is depressed on theenlarged display 2 in FIG. 11C, the enlarged display 1 in FIG. 11B isdisplayed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts according to the present embodiment.

When a user of the image processing apparatus 100 turns the mode dial 61to the reproduction mode and depresses the power ON/OFF button 60, thesystem controller 50 initializes flags and control variables (S101).Next, the last image of the images recorded in the recording medium 200and directory data of the recording medium 200 obtained upon acquisitionof this image are acquired and stored in the memory 30 (S102). Assumethat the images recorded in the recording medium 200 have a directorystructure shown in FIG. 5. The image IMG_9803.JPG under the directory998GANON having the largest image number, and directory data obtainedupon acquisition of the last image are acquired and stored in the memory30.

The directory data is described with reference to FIG. 14A.

The directory data includes directory data of the last image anddirectory data obtained upon acquisition of the last image.

Recorded as the directory data of the last image is informationindicating that the image having the file number 9803 is recorded underthe directory 998GANON as shown in FIG. 14A.

Recorded as the directory data obtained upon acquisition of the lastimage includes: information indicating that there are areas fordirectory numbers 100 to 999 under the directory DCIM of the recordingmedium 200 and that directory numbers 100, 101, and 998 exist,information indicating that there are three files numbered 9801, 9802and 9803 recorded under the directory 998GANON having the largestdirectory number, and information indicating that the directory searchfor the 998GANON including the image file 9803 of the largest imagenumber has been completed.

To indicate existence or absence of directories, 1 is recorded in thememory 30 if a directory exists, and 0 is recorded in the memory 30 if adirectory does not exist. To indicate whether or not directory searchhas been completed, 1 is recorded in the memory 30 if the search hasbeen completed, and 0 is recorded in the memory 30 if the search has notbeen completed.

Next, the system controller displays the last image IMG_9803.JPG on thedisplay unit 54 (S103), and begins the directory search (S104). Thedirectory search includes a file data search, such as what kind ofdirectories exist, how many numbers of image files exist in total, howmany numbers of moving-image files exist, which directory stores themoving-image files, in which images the photographed date and timechange, and so on.

The directory search begins in step S104. When the directory search iscompleted for all directories recorded in the recording medium 200, datashown in FIG. 14B is recorded in the memory 30. As shown in FIG. 14B,search completion is indicated for all numbers where directories exist.Note that the directory search proceeds in order from large-numbereddirectories to small-numbered directories.

After the system controller 50 begins the directory search (S104), itperiodically checks for button depression (S105). The period of checkingmay be of any period, for instance, 150 msec intervals. When a buttondepression is detected in step S105, the control proceeds to buttondepression processing in step S106 where processing according to thedepressed button is performed. The button depression processing will bedescribed later with reference to FIG. 4.

Next, the system controller 50 proceeds to step S107. In step S107, itis determined whether or not the directory search has ended. If it hasnot ended, the control returns to step S105. If the directory search hasended in step S107, the total image number display processing isperformed in step S108. Because the total number of images cannot beacquired unless the directory search ends, in a case where the screen isdisplayed with data indication, the reproducing image number and thetotal number of images are not displayed as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore,after the directory search ends, the total image number displayprocessing in step S108 is performed, and the screen is displayed withdata indication similar to FIG. 7B.

Next, the system controller 50 proceeds to a normal reproductionprocessing in step S109 to perform a normal reproduction operation. Inthe normal reproduction operation, all operations can be performed,including menu displaying, data indication ON/OFF switching, deletion,search, index playback, enlargement/reduction, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed flow of the button depression processing in stepS106 in FIG. 3.

The system controller 50 determines the type of button depressed (S201).If the depressed button is the menu button 301, delete button 304,search button 305, or index playback button 306, the control proceeds tostep S202 where a message “processing in progress” is displayed for twoseconds. FIG. 13 shows an example of the screen displaying the message“processing in progress.” Displaying the message is performed to notifythe user of the image processing apparatus 100 that the apparatus cannotaccept a button operation.

If the system controller 50 determines in step S201 that the powerON/OFF button 60 is depressed, the image processing apparatustermination processing is performed, and the power is turned OFF (S203).

If the system controller 50 determines in step S201 that the reducebutton 307 or the enlarge button 308 is depressed, enlargement orreduction processing is performed on the currently displayed image(S204). Enlargement and reduction processing has already been describedabove with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11C.

If the system controller 50 determines in step S201 that the left orright button 309 or 310 for frame-by-frame advancing is depressed,frame-by-frame advancing is performed (S205 to S208). The systemcontroller 50 temporarily halts the directory search that has started instep S104 (S205), and stores information regarding how far the searchhas progressed, how many images have been searched and the like in thememory 30. Then, the system controller 50 searches for an image to bedisplayed by frame-by-frame advancing (S206) and displays the retrievedimage (S207). Assume that the images recorded in the recording medium200 have a directory structure shown in FIG. 5. When the image fileIMG_9802.JPG is currently displayed on the display unit 54, if the leftbutton 309 is depressed, the image file IMG_9801.JPG is displayed. Ifthe right button 310 is depressed, the image file IMG_9803.JPG isdisplayed on the display unit 54. Next, the system controller 50 resumesthe directory search based on the data stored in the memory 30 when thedirectory search was temporarily halted in step S205 (S208).

Hereinafter, a description is provided with reference to FIGS. 5 and 15on the data recorded in the memory 30 when the directory search istemporarily halted and resumed in steps S205 to S208.

Assume that the image IMG_9802.JPG is currently displayed on the displayunit 54 and the directory search of 998GANON and 101GANON has beencompleted as shown in FIG. 15. In this state, if frame-by-frameadvancing is instructed, the directory search is temporarily halted instep 3205. Upon completion of the frame-by-frame advancing in step S207,the directory search of 100GANON, which has not been subjected to asearch, is resumed in step S208.

Furthermore, assume that the image IMG_9803.JPG is currently displayedon the display unit 54 and the directory search of 998GANON and 101GANONhas been completed as shown in FIG. 15. In this state, if the rightbutton 310 is depressed for frame-by-frame advancing, the IMG_0001.JPGunder the directory 100GANON (see FIG. 5) is searched in step S206 anddisplayed on the display unit 54. Since the directory search of 100GANONhas not been completed at this stage, the directory search of 100GANONis performed. After the directory search of 100GANON is performed,IMG_0001.JPG is retrieved and displayed on the display unit 54. When thedirectory search processing is completed, the directory data recorded inthe memory 30 indicates completion of all data search as shown in FIG.14B.

If the system controller 50 determines in step S201 that the easy directbutton 313 is depressed, the currently displayed image is transferred toa PC or a printer. The system controller 50 determines a deviceconnected through the communication unit 110, and transfers the imagedisplayed on the display unit 54 to the connected device (S210).

If the system controller 50 determines in step S201 that the dataindication ON/OFF button is depressed, data indication ON/OFF switchingis performed (S209). Data indication ON/OFF switching has already beendescribed above with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. Note that the totalnumber of images cannot be acquired unless the directory search ends.Therefore, when the data indication is ON, the reproducing image numberand the total number of images are not displayed as shown in FIG. 12.

As set forth above, according to the present embodiment, upon start-upof a camera for reproduction it is possible to reduce the time necessarybefore the camera becomes ready to accept an operation. Before thecamera completes a search operation of all directories and/or files, itis possible to perform frame-by-frame advancing, enlargement orreduction, data indication ON/OFF switching, power OFF, and imagetransferring. However, the camera does not accept deletion processingand other operations that require changes in the directory structuresuch as voice memo addition, as well as index playback that requiresdisplaying of a large amount of images at once. When such unacceptableoperation is performed, a message indicative of unacceptance isdisplayed, thereby notifying the user of the image processing apparatus.

The present embodiment has described file deletion and voice memoaddition as an example that requires changes in the directory structure.In addition, an operation that entails, for instance, file copying, filemoving, and new file generation, may be decided as an unacceptableoperation until the end of all directory search, as it requires changesin the directory structure.

Although the present embodiment provides the search button 305, the upbutton 311 in FIG. 2 may be used as a search button. When the menu orthe like is not displayed as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B (in other words,during an image playback), depressing the up button 311 causes a shiftto search processing, displaying the 10-image jump screen shown in FIG.9A. In the state in FIG. 9A, depressing the up or down button 311 or 312enables selection of other search processing, e.g., 100-image jumpsearch, moving-image jump search (FIG. 9B), and date jump search (FIG.9C). Besides the up button 311, any button may be used as a searchbutton. As described above, by making use of an existing button such asthe up button, an operation member can be reduced, and the imageprocessing apparatus 100 can be downsized.

The present embodiment can be achieved by providing a computer-readablerecording medium (or a storage medium), recording program codes ofsoftware realizing the above-described functions of the embodiment, to acomputer system or apparatus, reading the program codes, by a computer(CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus, from the recording medium, thenexecuting the program. In this case, the program codes read from therecording medium realize the functions according to the embodiment, andthe recording medium storing the program codes constitutes theinvention. Furthermore, besides aforesaid functions according to theabove embodiment are realized by executing the program codes which areread by a computer, the present invention includes a case where an OS(operating system) or the like working on the computer performs part orthe entire processes in accordance with designations of the programcodes and realizes functions according to the above embodiment.

Furthermore, the present invention also includes a case where, after theprogram codes read from the recording medium are written in a functionexpansion card which is inserted into the computer or in a memoryprovided in a function expansion unit which is connected to thecomputer, a CPU or the like contained in the function expansion card orunit performs part or the entire processes in accordance withdesignations of the program codes and realizes functions of the aboveembodiment.

In a case where the present embodiment is applied to the aforesaidrecording medium, the recording medium stores program codescorresponding to the flowcharts described in the embodiment.

Note that the present invention can be applied to a system constitutedby a plurality of devices (e.g., host computer, interface, reader,printer) or to a stand-alone apparatus (e.g., copying machine, facsimilemachine).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and variouschanges and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, to apprise the public of the scope of thepresent invention, the following claims are made.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2005-040895, filed Feb. 17, 2005, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

1. An image processing apparatus for recording and reproducing an imagefile, comprising: a recording unit constructed to record the image filein a recording medium; a search unit constructed to performing adirectory search for an image file lastly recorded in the recordingmedium, for a display of the searched image file on a display device andfor all image files recorded in the recording medium, the directorysearch being started in accordance with a startup of said apparatus; anoperation unit constructed to instruct an operation for changing thedisplayed image to the display device; and a control unit constructed tocontrol to, in a case where the operation for changing the displayedimage by said operation unit is performed during the directory search,interrupt the directory search, and resume the interrupted directorysearch after completing the search of the image file to be displayed inaccordance with the changing instruction of the operation unit.
 2. Theimage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the directorysearch includes a process for searching a type of directory existing inthe recording medium or a number of all images recorded in the recordingmedium.
 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a reproduction unit constructed to reproduce the image fileon the display device; and a setting unit constructed to set areproduction mode for reproducing the image file by said reproductionunit, wherein the reproduction mode includes a first reproduction modein which, when an operation to instruct reproduction is performed, anorder of image file to be reproduced is advanced by one file inaccordance with a predetermined reproduction order, and a secondreproduction mode in which an order of image file to be reproduced isadvanced by a predetermined number of files in accordance with apredetermined reproduction order.
 4. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein in a case where an operation performedduring the directory search by a user is unacceptable, said control unitcauses the display device to display a warning indicative ofunacceptance.
 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the unacceptable operation includes at least one of: anoperation to delete an image file recorded in the recording medium; anoperation to add sound data to an image file recorded in the recordingmedium; an operation to move an image file recorded in the recordingmedium from one directory to another directory; an operation to generatea new image file in the recording medium; an operation to copy an imagefile recorded in the recording medium; an operation to perform indexdisplay of plural reduced images on the display device; an operation tocause increase or decrease in a number of files recorded in therecording medium; an operation to cause changes in a directory structurerecorded in the recording medium; and an operation to search a specificfile from files recorded in the recording medium.
 6. The imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unitcontrols the display device to display a number of all image files whenthe search of all image files recorded in the recording medium iscompleted.
 7. A control method of an image processing apparatus forrecording an image file in a recording medium, comprising the steps of:performing a directory search for an image file lastly recorded in therecording medium, for a display of the searched image file on a displaydevice and for all image files recorded in the recording medium, thedirectory search being started in accordance with a startup of saidapparatus; receiving an operation for instructing the display device tochange the displayed image; and controlling to, in a case where theoperation for changing the displayed image is received in said receivingstep during the directory search, interrupt the directory search, andresume the interrupted directory search after completing the search ofthe image file to be displayed in accordance with the changinginstruction received in said receiving step.
 8. The control methodaccording to claim 7, wherein the directory search includes a processfor searching a type of directory existing in the recording medium or anumber of all images recorded in the recording medium.
 9. The controlmethod according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:reproducing the image file on the display device; and setting areproduction mode for reproducing the image file in said reproducingstep, wherein the reproduction mode includes a first reproduction modein which, when an operation to instruct reproduction is performed, anorder of image file to be reproduced is advanced by one file inaccordance with a predetermined reproduction order, and a secondreproduction mode in which an order of image file to be reproduced isadvanced by a predetermined number of files in accordance with apredetermined reproduction order.
 10. The control method according toclaim 9, wherein in a case where an operation performed during thedirectory search by a user is unacceptable, in said controlling step thedisplay device is controlled to display a warning indicative ofunacceptance.
 11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein theunacceptable operation includes at least one of: an operation to deletean image file recorded in the recording medium; an operation to addsound data to an image file recorded in the recording medium; anoperation to move an image file recorded in the recording medium fromone directory to another directory; an operation to generate a new imagefile in the recording medium; an operation to copy an image filerecorded in the recording medium; an operation to perform index displayof plural reduced images on the display device; an operation to causeincrease or decrease in a number of files recorded in the recordingmedium; an operation to cause changes in a directory structure recordedin the recording medium; and an operation to search a specific file fromfiles recorded in the recording medium.
 12. The image processingapparatus according to claim 7, wherein in said controlling step thedisplay device is controlled to display a number of all image files whenthe search of all image files recorded in the recording medium iscompleted.